SHANNON- based synthetic diamond manufacturer Element Six and its employees last year raised €16,748 for local charity Cliona’s Foundation.
Three separate fundraising events including a charity cycle, cake sale and Christmas lunch were run by Element Six employees in 2017, raising over €8,000, but a matching contribution by the company brought the total to in excess of €16,000.
Cliona’s Foundation was chosen as the staff’s 2017 designated charity because of the support it provides to three -year-old Fionn Barry, who has spent most of his young life in hospital being treated for Infantile Spasms – a debilitating and life-limiting illness that requires 24-hour care. Fionn’s father Trevor Barry works as part of the maintenance staff at Element Six.
Trevor said this week that the generosity of his colleagues and the company had touched him and his family deeply.
“It’s such a fabulous gesture from all concerned. Fionn has an ongoing battle on his hands, but there’s clearly great people on his side,” he added.
Co-founder of Cliona’s Foundation, Brendan Ring said that Element Six and its staff have given a great example of just what can be achieved by social clubs if they put a charity programme in place.
“I would encourage as many companies as possible to do this, regardless of what charity the money goes to,” he concluded.